I Saw a Tiger: Fancasting the Tiger King Limited Series

Tiger King has managed to captivate the entire world while people are trapped indoors, desperate for a new show to binge. Filled with crazy Oklahoma characters, animal cruelty, and more than one federal investigation, this documentary is a trainwreck that everyone couldn’t help but watch, which is why Saturday Night Live’s Kate McKinnon is producing her own limited series based on the events. McKinnon will provide the portrayal of the universally hated Carol Baskin, but there are other key players who will need to be put on screen, and here is who should play them.

Tim Stark: Woody Harrelson

Tim Stark appeared briefly several times during the show, being the animal supplier that gave Joe Exotic his start. Stark is someone that seemed easy-going during his interviews, but he is a truly cruel person, keeping animals in small cages and driving them across the country to sell to the highest bidder. Woody Harrelson is somebody that is inherently lovable but can play characters that are extremely deranged as well, being able to capture both sides of Stark’s personality.

Dillon Passage: Chris Colfer

Joe Exotic’s current husband, Dillion Passage, did not play a huge part in the series, but it is likely that he will still appear. Chris Colfer looks almost exactly like Passage, and that should be more than enough to land him such a minor role.

Travis Maldonado: Tyler Posey

Travis Maldonado tragically killed himself by mistake during the filming of the documentary, and while he seldom had one-on-one interviews, he was an important part of Joe Exotic’s story. Tyler Posey is someone who possesses a passing resemblance to the late Maldonado, while also being able to portray his anger and teenage angst accurately.

Howard Baskin: Tim Blake Nelson

Howard was rarely seen without being by the side of his wife Carol Baskin, but he was her biggest supporter, and will likely have several scenes with Kate McKinnon in the series. Tim Blake Nelson looks exactly like Howard, to the point where casting anyone else would be a disservice to the uncanny resemblance. Using some makeup to increase his age and the country accent that he has become known for, there is no one better suited to play the patriarch of Big Cat Rescue.

Jeff Lowe: Jonathan Banks

Jeff Lowe is known as the one that got away, a man that should inarguably be behind bars, yet cut a deal with the federal government that kept him safe. While Jonathan Banks is a good bit older than Lowe, there is no doubt that he matches the appearance. Lowe is the scum of the Earth, still committing animal rights violations to this day, so casting someone who is used to playing villains is only fitting for such a disgusting human being.

Saff Saffery: Brandon Baker

While Brandon Baker is nowhere near a relevant actor, he is who fan-favorite Saff suggested to play him, and the resemblance between the two is there. Known almost exclusively for his role in the Disney Channel original movie Johnny Tsunami, Baker hasn’t been in anything significant since 2007, but all it takes is Saffery’s suggestion for him to get the job.

John Reinke: Matthew McConaughey

When asked on the after-show Tiger King and I who he would want to play him, former G.W. Zoo manager John Reinke said Matthew McConaughey was the clear option. He was entirely right about this, as not only do the two men look alike, but they also possess the same laid back, country boy attitude.

Rich Kirkham: Billy Bob Thornton

Much like John Reinke, Rich Kirkham suggested that Billy Bob Thornton should portray him in a series, and there is simply no other option. Imagining Thornton narrating the series in his rich and smokey Southern accent should give anyone chills, and when it comes to seasoned TV producer Rich Kirkham a better actor for the part doesn’t exist.

John Finlay: Shia LaBeouf

John Finlay was one of the many victims of this series, being coaxed into marrying Joe Exotic with trucks, guns, and most of all meth. However, he is not a bad person, but instead just an interesting character. A method actor like Shia LaBeouf would insist on using prosthetic teeth, work to master the lisp that Finlay talked with in interviews, and would manage to look exactly like the real person behind the script.

Bhagavan Antle: Paul Giamatti

Doc Antle was debatably the evilest zoo owner on the show, because not only did he torture and mistreat animals, but he also enslaved women. Thankfully Antle’s zoo was raided in 2019, but he will always be remembered as one of the most delusional characters in the documentary, truly believing that he is some kind of messiah. Paul Giamatti has proven his worth as an actor hundreds of time, and could certainly make portraying this one-of-a-kind person look like an everyday task.

Joe Exotic: Brad Pitt

Someone with as inflated of an ego as Joe Exotic doesn’t deserve to be played by Brad Pitt, but the best option is the best option. Pitt would be able to capture the hair, the accent, and even the narcissism perfectly, while also providing an A-list star to breathe more interest into the project. Maybe Joe Exotic shouldn’t get the privilege of having such a huge movie star play him, but the fact that he will never see the series may be torture enough.

Who would you like to see in the Tiger King series? Let us know in the comments!